obama held a 13-point advantage among women voters, of whom just 43% voted for don mccain. this summer it looked as though, would likely -- was likely to maintain a double-digits advantage among women, but polls in recent weeks demonstrate that the race for women voters is tightening. what can we expect in 2012? election year in which both presidential campaigns are desperately trying to appeal to women voters? , are we likely to see a continuation of the gender gap, and does a gap exists among catholic voters? today i will look at where men and women stand in terms of their likely vote, using data just released from the public religion research institute. i will examine two issues as they relate to the women's vote, report that the rights and social welfare policies. these issues are prominent in this year plus presidential race on and are two issues of vital concern to the catholic church. both issues and body of the commitment to the less fortunate or the least of the street for the catholic bishops, the least of these also include the unborn, which drives their fears wi